[Care of adult patients with epileptic seizure in emergency departments (ACESUR Registry). Differences according to age ≥75 years]

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether there are differences in the profile and in the care of adult patients with epileptic seizures in emergency department according to age ≥75 years, and if this is independently associated with results in the emergency department and 30 days after discharge.

Material and methods: ACESUR is a multicentre, prospective, observational cohort multipurpose register that was carried out in 2017. The distribution of the variables corresponding to the clinical presentation and care according to age ≥75 years were compared. Subsequently, logistic regression models were performed with the objective of evaluating the effect of age ≥75 years on the outcome variables.

Results: A total of 541 (81.5%) cases younger than 75 years were analysed compared to 123 adult patients (18.5%) of ≥75 years or more. In the group of long-lived it was observed significantly greater probability of dependence, co-morbidity, polypharmacy, a previous visit to the hospital emergency department, arrived by ambulance, first seizures and a symptomatic aetiopathogenic classification. In the multivariate analysis, after adjusting for the above variables, it is observed that age >75 years is associated independently with a higher incidence of specific supplementary tests (OR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.21-4.44), but not pharmacological intervention (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 0.96-2.80), or hospitalisation or extended stay in emergency departments (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 0.94-2.59). On adjusting for all previous variables, age >75 years is associated with lower incidence of adverse events at 30 days (OR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.25-0.77).

Conclusions: In the ACESUR Registry, differences in clinical presentation and in the care of patients with seizures in emergency departments were identified when comparing those patients >75 years with those <75 years. Age ≥75 years is not independently associated with a higher incidence of intervention in emergency departments, or with more adverse outcomes at 30 days after discharge.

Keywords: 75 años; Age 75 years; Atención; Care; Crisis epilépticas; Emergencies; Epileptic seizures; Outcomes; Resultados; Urgencias.